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if the balance of trade between Britain and Hong Kong were not
so heavily weighted in your favour. So I very much welcome the
decision of the China Light and Power Company to order new
generating equipment from Britain, and the award of a number
of other major contracts to British firms. It is, of course,
up to individual British businessmen to make the most of the
opportunities here. But anything you can do to encourage British
exports to Hong Kong will be very useful.
There are, of course, people in Britain who are out of sympathy
with the Hong Kong way of doing things. That is only to be
expected. But you should see their criticisms in the proper
perspective. I am told that questions about Hong Kong in the
British Parliament are often given front-page treatment by local
newspapers. I can assure you that they attract much less
attention in Britain. And you should remember that Hong Kong
has many more friends than critics, in Parliament and outside it.
People in Britain have a great deal of respect and admiration for
what you have achieved.
Hong Kong and General Department
22 June 1979
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